XN000022-1981-09-07 — Page 2

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1981

WARNING ON HUNG MING BALLOON FIRE DANGER

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A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC NOT TO TAKE HUNG MING BALLOONS INTO COUNTRY PARKS WAS ISSUED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO ISSUE THE WARN ING NOW AT AUTUMN WITH MUCH DRIER WEATHER NOT TOO FAR AWAY.

HE SAID ANYONE FOUND IN A COUNTRY PARK WITH A HUNG MING BALLOON FACED A $5 000 FINE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

HE DESCRIBED THE BALLOONS AS A SCOURGE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE+ AND SAID THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF FIRES, MANY IN AREAS FIREFIGHTERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO REACH.

MANY BALLOONS WERE RELEASED FOR FUN, MOSTLY AT AUTUMN WHEN THE COUNTRYSIDE WAS AT ITS DRIEST. AS A RESULT LARGE AREAS OF COUNTRY- SIDE SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE.

HE SAID IN VIEW OF THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR RECREATION THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING AN INCREASINGLY SERIOUS VIEW OF THOSE STARTING COUNTRYSIDE FIRES.

THERE WOULD BE STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO PREVENT HUNG MING BALLOONS FROM BEING TAKEN INTO COUNTRY PARK AREAS.

FINES AND IMPRISONMENT COULD ALSO BE IMPOSED IN CASES WHERE THE BALLOONS CAUSED DAMAGE OUTSIDE COUNTRY PARKS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE COUNTRYSIDE WAS MOST AT RISK DURING THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO AND FOLLOWING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON OCTOBER 6 THIS YEAR.

+ON THE FESTIVAL DAY ITSELF IT IS USUAL FOR THE LARGEST NUMBER OF FIRES TO OCCUR, HE SAID. +APART FROM HUNG MING BALLOONS CARELESSLY DISCARDED CIGARETTE ENDS AND LIGHTED MATCHES ALSÓ TAKE A TOLL.+

HE APPEALED FOR CO-OPERATION FROM ALL WHO VISIT THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM NOW ON TO PREVENT FIRES AND TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE DURING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL PERIOD,

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES RECENTLY WROTE TO THE CHAIRMEN OF ALL 27 RURAL COMMITTEES SEEKING THEIR SUPPORT IN BATTLING THE FIRE MENACE.

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